Treating sorghum or ribbon cane



(Model.) W. L.v GEBBY.

Treating Sorghum orl Ribbon Can. No. 241,207. Patenfed may1o,|ss1.

Nrrnn STATES ATYENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. GEBBY, OF NEW RICHLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO HUGH HUSTON AND ISAIAH LABKINS, OF DUNKIRK, OHIO.

TREATING SORGHUM OR RIBBON CANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,207, dated May 10, 1881.

Application filed March 26, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom ttmay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. GEBBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Richland, in the county of Logan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treating Sorghum or Ribtain new and valuable improvements in the` treatment of sorghum or ribbon cane previous to its being pressed or acted upon by mechanical means in the manufacture of molasses or sugar.

The invention consists in first steaming the stalks by bringing the steam in direct contact with the outer partof the stalk and afterward drying them by bringing the steam around and against the outside of the steaming-chest,

whereby a matter is destroyed in the outer part of thestalk which, if left therein, would be detrimental to the flavor of both sugar and sirups.

In the accompanying'drawings, A B represent two steaming and drying chests, con structed of any suitable material.

VThe chests A B are provided at their top with suitable doors a, and at their sides doors b. These doors are so constructed as to be perfectly air-tight when closed, and may be fastened by any convenient means.

The chests A B are each provided with a removable grating, c, resting upon the bottom of the chests, but so constructed as to allow the free passage of the steam around and through the saine, the object of said grates being to keep the weight of the stalks olf the bottom of the chests, to insure, as above set forth, the unobstructed circulation of the steam.

Each one of the steam-chests is enveloped or surrounded upon its four sides and bottom with a steam-space, cl, into which steam is admitted through a pipe, e, and to the steamchest through a pipe, f. These pipes e f,which connect, respectively, the steam space and chest, are provided with suitable faucets to shut oft' the steam when required, thepipes being connected, by any convenient means, to a steam-generating apparatus of any of the ordinary forms. p

In treating the cane-stalks they are first placed in an upright position in the steamchests, with their butts resting on the gratings c, after which the several doors are securely closed, and, if desired, fastened, thus rendering the steam-chests perfectly air-tight. The steam is next turned on from the pipes j' to bring the steam in direct contact with the stalks-in the chests, which thoroughly cooks them. After the cane-stalks have been suffrciently treated by the action ofthe steam the several doors are opened, and the steam turned off and at the same time steam turned on from the, pipes e, which passes into and around the spaces d. rihe action of the steam against the walls and bottom of the chests AB thoroughly dries the surface of the stalks, after which they are removed and pressed in an ordinary canemill, the juice being boiledin the usual evaporator until it is reduced to molasses or sugar, as desired. This steaming and drying process frees the cane from all acids and other impurities. which hinder and prevent granulation, and obtains a greater percentage of saccharine matter from the cane than is done by the old process.

It should be further understood that the drying process which I subject the cane to extracts that matter which has heretofore rc. tarded the process of granulating.

By the treatment of the cane-stalks as heretofore described sugar can be obtained without dripping.

I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to any special form or size of steamchests, steam-spaces, or gratings, or to the number of said chests, or the material from which the several parts are constructed, but

by bringing the steam Within an air-tight space around the chest, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have l hereunto subscribed my name in the presence 15.,

of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. GEBBY.

cane by rst placing the stalks within an air- Witnesses: tight chest and bringing thesteamin direct oon- S. M. HOVER, 1o tact therewith and afterward drying the stalks 'VM. KENNEDY. 

